Peasreads: Tales of Green Tea Notes from a Centuries-Old Kyoto Teahouse by Miyako Watanabe with Cathy Hirano (Translator)

A slice of life book about a 300-year-old tea shop that is just delightful. Some basic recipes that seem simple but are so informative as far as time and temperature for brewing different teas. The author tells us how each tea is grown and when it is harvested. There is history woven in with how tea and the tearoom have progressed with the times. I wish I could visit during all the seasons to see their different decor and taste their seasonal offerings. Lovely storytelling that makes you want to explore the region. There are some fun doodles in the book, but it is not really a book to flip through for art. Just scattered throughout, and cute. Ippodo has a website and ships their tea all over the world. I can't wait to try the Hōjicha.

 Description

A charming, lightly illustrated exploration of the history of green tea and matcha, Japanese tea culture, and daily life in Kyoto by the owner of the 300-year-old Ippodo Tea shop.

At the family-owned Ippodo tea store in Kyoto, time passes at the gentle pace of green tea leaves brewing in a kyusu teapot. Written by the store’s current owner, Miyako Watanabe, Tales of Green Tea offers an account of everyday life at this beloved spot, but also of the knowledge, encounters, and discoveries that come with a life steeped in tea.

Composed of short, evocative sections that move through the seasons and engage the senses, along with charming tea-themed illustrations, Tales of Green Tea is at all times moving, nostalgic, funny, and informative. From the historical origins of tea, right up to modern day tea commerce and culture, and many reminiscences in between, we explore the endless flow of tales to be found in a simple cup of tea, alongside best practices for home brewing and recipes for tea snacks.

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Peasreads: The Whole30 Fast & Easy Cookbook Revised Edition by Melissa Urban

 

Great recipes, just nothing really new. Some information on whole 3o is revised. The photos are gorgeous. The recipes are Whole30 compliant with some fun new ideas. 

Helpful for beginners. Great for reference.

You can find more Whole 30 content HERE. 

Description

A must-have updated edition of the New York Times bestseller—featuring 35 new quick and easy recipes and updated program guidelines.

This revised edition of the bestselling Whole30 Fast & Easy is updated with 35 brand-new recipes and photos, perfect for weeknight cooking, lunches in a hurry, and hearty breakfasts that still get you out the door on time.

The groundbreaking Whole30 program has helped millions of people transform their lives, bringing about better sleep, more energy, less bloating, and fewer cravings. In this cookbook, bestselling author and Whole30 co-creator Melissa Urban wants to make it even easier to achieve Whole30 success—with over 150 easy-to-make recipes that you can put together in 30 minutes or less. Think dishes like:

Green Chicken Salad with Creamy Avocado Tahini Dressing

Vietnamese-Inspired Pork Tacos

Charred Veggie and Chicken Fajita Wrap

Shrimp and Green Bean Stir Fry with Quick Chili Crisp

Roasted Garlic-Potato Soup with Sausage and Kale

Sheet Pan Buffalo Chicken, Broccoli and Baby Yukons

Featuring hearty and delicious skillet meals, sheet-pan suppers, slow-cook dinners, and cozy noodle bowls, these are dishes anyone can make for a weeknight dinner, quick lunch, or easy breakfast.

This updated edition also includes the new Whole30 guidelines, drawing on the latest research and behavior change science. Whether you’re doing your first Whole30 or your fourth, or looking for some gluten-free, dairy-free, fast and easy recipes, this collection is a must-have for any kitchen.

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Thank you NetGalley and for William Marrow for this egalley. All opinions are my own. I was not obligated to leave a review

Peasreads:Fishbone Cinderella by Elizabeth Lim

Publication date July 28, 2026.

Fishbone Cinderella follows a family for multiple generations. It weaves in the story of fishbone Cinderella, Ye Xian (Yeh-hsien), a 9th-century Chinese folktale regarded as one of the oldest Cinderella variants. This is a poignant story about love, belonging, mistakes made, finding yourself, and letting others see who you truly are.

Elizabeth Lim's storytelling is descriptive, and her characters are flawed yet real. Throughout the story you can see how our history and experiences can shape us. Lim addresses generational trauma and curses and weaves them into the fabric of each character with care.

There are different settings in the story, from wartorn villages in China and Hong Kong, to city life in those places, to life in America. Lim's portrayal of immigrants settling into life in America tugged on my heartstrings. It reminded me of stories my parents and family have shared about their experiences fleeing from their homes due to war and coming to America. With nothing but the clothing on their backs and the language of their country on their tongues. It was difficult. Heartbreaking at times, but survivors survive. 

This is a beautiful story. 

Description

A mother and daughter must break their family’s curse through trials of war and immigration, love, loss, and redemption in this riveting multi-generational saga with a shimmer of magic, from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Forgery of Fate.

1940s Hong Kong

When Japanese soldiers invade her hometown, Ha Yut Ying makes an unlikely escape—by turning invisible. But her miraculous survival is only the beginning. After the war is over, she’s sent to Hong Kong to live with her distant father and glamorous stepmother, who end her dreams of becoming a singer and turn her into the family’s servant. As the years pass, Yut Ying learns the hard truths of betrayal and ambition, of forbidden love and devastating loss, and discovers that sometimes the only way to endure is to disappear.

1960s San Francisco

Marigold has always had a knack for uncovering secrets, but nothing prepares her for the day she accidentally witnesses her mother vanish before her eyes. The moment fractures their bond, leaving questions that shadow her entire childhood. But when her mother’s condition suddenly deteriorates, Marigold is convinced she’s the only person who can save her. To do so, she must journey into the secrets her mother never shared and uncover the tragic, fairytale-tinged history their family has fought to forget.

A story of mother and daughters, the scars they inherit and the magic that binds them, Fishbone Cinderella is a tender and enchanting exploration of what it means, at last, to be seen.

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Peasreads: Isis of Egypt: Goddess of Thrones by Malayna Evans

Four stars for this reimagining of the story of Isis. Malayna Evans has a PhD in Egyption history so her knowledge played a huge part in why I loved this book so much. Her story telling is engaging and interesting. I loved learning the tidbits about so many major and minor Gods. Reading how Isis learned at differnt stages of life to grow, rule, let go, survive, serve, restore, forgive, and to rebuild. 

Description

One determined goddess. Two beloved gods. Three coveted thrones.

Ancient Egypt’s most formidable goddess will stop at nothing to save her true love from the wrath of a vengeful god in this romantic retelling by the author of Neferura, perfect for readers who loved Lilith.

Isis, goddess of thrones and magic, steals the crown of Egypt and hands the power to her husband, Osiris. Together, Isis and Osiris live an idyllic life, ruling justly until the god of chaos, set on revenge for a crime Isis knows nothing about, traps Osiris in a box—a box that quickly vanishes.

Driven by rage and desperation, Isis spends decades disguised as a human woman, isolated from home and family as she searches for her lost love. When she finally uncovers the box, what she finds will change her life—and the fate of gods and mortals—forever. Unless Isis can right the wrongs of a betrayal she didn’t commit and deliver Egypt into the hands of a worthy leader, Egypt will fall into chaos. 

Isis of Egypt: Goddess of Thrones is a feminist retelling about the woman behind one of the ancient world’s most widespread and enduring cults, a goddess whose message of empathy and resilience resonates still today.

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Peasreads: The Condiment Book by Claire Dinhut

This is a fun book that has so many great recipes that are easy and the ingredients are accessible. Clearly written and easy to follow.  I made a tofu marinade from the book and it was excellent.

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • From TikTok sensation Condiment Claire, a quirky and informative guide to the flavor enhancers we can’t get enough of, with dozens of recipes for making and using condiments of all descriptions

Claire Dinhut soared to internet fame tasting and rating hundreds of jams, mustards, and butters, showing how she incorporates condiments into virtually every bite she takes. Often posting from the remote French village where her father maintains a fourteenth-century mill, she delighted followers with her charmingly casual approach to preserving and pickling, showing how easy it is to transform seasonal produce and kitchen odds and ends into homemade condiments that will enhance any meal and create unique gifts.

The Condiment Book captures the role condiments play in defining food cultures around the world, pairing brief histories of flavoring agents from ketchup to kimchi with tutorials on creating unique flavor combos to suit your own palate. In chapters devoted to Butters and Salts, Fruit in Jars, Hot Sauces, Pickles and Ferments, Dips, and of course Mustards and Mayo, Claire guides readers through the making of condiments to give or keep, and offers a handful of “condiment companions” ideal for serving alongside the cook’s handiwork. Helpful charts and graphics give abundant ideas for pairing condiments and flavors, extending the use of these versatile products far beyond the expected.

Packed with lush photos, cheerful “doodles” and the whipsmart observations of a Harvard-educated, bilingual gourmand obsessed with everything salty, spicy, bitter, and sweet, The Condiment Book is the ideal gift for any cook eager to dip a toe into the world of preserving, or any food lover looking for new and exciting ways to use those bottles and jars knocking around their pantry.

Thank you for being here. Have a blessed day.

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Peasreads- This Immortal Heart A Novel of Aphrodite by Jennifer Saint

This Immortal Heart
A Novel of Aphrodite by Jennifer Saint
Pub Date Jun 09 2026 

This Immortal Heart is a book about Aphrodite and Ares. Told through Aphrodite's POV. I like Jennifer Saint's writing and have enjoyed a few of her books. I've never been academic about how I write reviews. If I enjoyed the book, it was entertaining, it flowed well, the characters weren't annoying, and I finished it without wanting to put it down; that's a win for me. This book is a 4-5 star read. I love mythology and retellings. Did I LOVE Aphrodite? Not really. She was her, and her nature made her behave and think in certain ways. I liked that her character made sense. She's the goddess of love. She's strong and loves her followers. This is a story about her, Ares, her followers, Hephestus, and the politics of the Olympian Gods. Zeus is, of course, the universal A-hole.  There really is no way to spin that one to make him any different. Ares and Hephestus, I really liked. They were true to their nature. They both had a past that shaped them and put them on different paths. Which I suspect is all of us. 
Reading as Aphrodite weaved through life and the politics of Olympian court life while staying true to her core was interesting. The story flowed well. It is not a long read. Well paced. 

Description

The epic, captivating tale of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, who must reconcile her mind and heart when she is drawn against all odds to Ares, the god of war, from the internationally bestselling author of Ariadne and Hera.

The stunning first edition hardcover of This Immortal Heart features gorgeous endpapers and a stamped case!

From the moment Aphrodite emerges fully formed from the sea, she is devastatingly beautiful and imbued with ancient power. Driven by passion yet strategic in how she moves through the halls of Olympus and the earthly realm alike, the free-willed goddess wields unparalleled influence over every living being.

When fate brings her face-to-face with Ares, she bristles at this surly, hot-tempered warrior who’s seemingly her opposite: disliked by everyone and devoted to stirring up conflict. Yet these gods are no more immune to the dizzying highs and lows of love and loss than anyone else, and soon, they are irresistibly drawn to one another.

As their love affair spans mortal lifetimes, Aphrodite begins to question the gods’ games and her role in them. But there’s only so much room for fire and passion in Zeus’s kingdom. Before long, she must test her devotion to her own divine purpose—and to a love that can only lead to ruin.

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Peasreads: The Rainshadow Orphans by Naomi Ishiguro

 

The Rainshadow Orphans
The Rainshadow Series, Book One
by Naomi Ishiguro

This book is everything the description below promises. From dragons to bubble tea. The world Naomi Ishiguro has created is indeed magical and Studio Ghibli like. The characters are well written. The story is good. It flows well. For all of those elements, I would give this book a solid 5 stars. The thing is, it took me a long time to read this book because it was almost too wordy. The book could have been shorter and still a wonderful read. I don't know how to explain it. All in all I enjoyed the book. I want to know what happens next. I just hope it isn't a trilogy that could have been a duology. 

Description

Featuring stenciled edges and original art for the front and back endpapers.

The first novel in a dazzling fantasy trilogy inspired by Japanese folklore and Studio Ghibli films like Spirited Away, set within a mythical archipelago brimming with dragons and Sun Spirits, high-tech hackers and bubble tea.

Life is hard for the inhabitants of Rainshadow City, a place where poverty and corruption are rife and where they are terrorized by an underground criminal organization known as the Lucky Crows.

Toshiko, Jun and Mei Kawakami are a family, bonded through loyalty if not blood, who live outside the increasingly corrupt law and who are seeking revenge for the murder of their beloved “aunt” Reiko by the Lucky Crows. Haru is the son of the Emperor, destined to one day rule over the Archipelago and uphold his mother’s ignoble legacy, but he is more interested in making friends with the magical Sun Spirits it seems only he can see. Theo, forced to leave his homeland, is a reluctant foot-soldier for the Lucky Crows. He doesn’t want to be a gangster, but as an illegal immigrant to the city, his choices are severely limited.

When Toshiko steals a dragon pearl from the leader of the Crows, it sets them all on a thrilling path which will determine the future of Rainshadow City. Tightly set across two days and peopled with unforgettable characters, The Rainshadow Orphans blends the anime fantasy of works like Pokémon and Studio Ghibli and the anime science fiction of revolutionary cyberpunk like Akira to explore what it means to stand up to corruption and take charge of destiny.

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Peasreads: Deathly Fates by Tesia Tsai

 

Tesia Tsai has woven a story so beautifully that I read it in two days. A story about duty, honor, love, letting go, and holding on. Fighting for what you love and knowing when to let go is best. Siying is a priestess who is tasked with guiding the deceased to their resting places. She lives in a kingdom that is in the midst of war. She takes on a job to bring a soldier to his home across the border. The soldier turns out to be the missing crown prince. When she reanimates him, he comes to life. Though not completely, she soon finds out that he needs qi to actually stay alive. They set off on a journey to bring him home, gathering purified qi along the way.

I do hope @illumicrate it @fairyloot will do a special edition of this one I can't wait to have a copy on my bookshelves.

Description

A sweeping debut inspired by the Chinese folk practice of necromancy, Deathly Fates is perfect for fans of Descendant of the Crane, The Bone Shard Daughter, and A Magic Steeped in Poison.

As a priestess paid to guide the deceased home, Kang Siying has never feared death. But when her beloved father collapses, Siying realizes that even she is not free from the cruel grasp of mortality. Desperate to provide her father with the medical aid he needs, Siying accepts a dangerous job that promises a generous commission, and travels to a hostile state to retrieve the corpse of a missing prince.

But the moment Siying places her reanimation talisman on the dead prince's head, rather than make the corpse obedient to Siying's commands, the talisman brings the prince back to life. Worse, he won't stay alive for long—not unless he absorbs enough qi, or life force, to keep his soul anchored to his body.

In return for a reward worth twice her original commission, Siying agrees to aid the frustratingly handsome prince in finding and purifying evil spirits for their qi. But as they journey across the countryside, encountering vengeful ghosts and enemy spies alike, they gradually uncover dark secrets about the prince's death—secrets that could endanger both Siying's father and their entire kingdom.

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I received this egalley from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books I was under no obligation to give a review. All opinions are my own. 

Peasreads: Your Soulmail Is Attached A Novel by Joan F. Smith

Your Soulmail Is Attached by Joan F. Smith

Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA

Pub Date Apr 14 2026

What can I say about this book? As described below, this book is about people receiving information about who their soulmate is. The world is changed overnight.  It isn't a hoax, it isn't traceable. The whole concept of a soulmate and there being one person that is out there for you is so mindblowing and unbelievable as it is. Then there is the question of what a soulmate is. The author, Joan F. Smith, must have done a lot of research. I had a very narrow description of what I considered a soulmate to be. Reading different takes on what a soulmate could be, reading how knowing could potentially be both good and bad for a population. It was so very interesting. I found myself going back and forth about how I would feel about knowing, if I would want to know, and what if I didn't like the information I was given? This made the book very interesting to me.

The FMC Olivia is thrust into the limelight as she accidentally becomes a viral sensation, and all of a sudden, all eyes are on her and her reports about Soulmail. Olivia doesn't want to know who her soulmate is. She's faced with many obstacles in navigating this new life and new world. I didn't agree with much of what she did but I could see what drove her to make the choices she made. Her character and history are complex. Navigating a world where information like this is out there is so new and nuanced. Smith did a wonderful job with this engaging, interesting romance that is so much more. Such a unique way to write about soulmates.

Description

What if everyone in the world found out who their soulmates are at the same time?

 

Olivia Adler’s life is picture-perfect: a behind-the-scenes job she loves in a bustling Manhattan newsroom, an engagement to golden-boy Wells, and a once-in-a-lifetime chance to create the documentary she’s always wanted to make.

 

Then one sleepless night, everything unravels.

 

One message on Wells’s phone shatters her engagement.

 

A second message—an anonymous global email quickly dubbed Soulmail—shakes the world.

 

Delivered to every individual on earth, Soulmail reveals the name and birthdate of their soulmates. Suddenly, love as the world knows it is rewritten overnight, and Olivia accidentally becomes the face of the phenomenon when she reports on the story live and goes viral.

 

With millions watching her every move, Olivia resolutely refuses to open her Soulmail. She’s not ready for fate to make her choices—especially not now. But when she crosses paths with her childhood best friend—the boy she loved and lost—everything she thought she knew about destiny, timing, and love comes into question.

 

Is true love written in the stars…or something we choose for ourselves?

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Peasreads- Behind Five Willows by June Hur

A delightful five-star read!  Set in the era when King Jeongjo issued a strict import ban on Chinese fiction and carried out extensive censorship of the writings of Joseon scholars in 1972.  Main character Haewon is the second daughter in her family. She loves to read fiction and works as an illegal book transcriber. One of her favorite authors that she transcribes for happens to be a noble, Seojun. He has status, and his family is well respected. No one knows that he is the man behind the pen name Black Lotus.  These two keep meeting and are thrown together when Haewon's sister Jade enters a courtship with Seojun's friend. Both quickly judged the other, but as they spend more time together, perhaps they judged wrong? The nod to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice was done so well in this book. It was romantic, with suspense and danger. I enjoyed reading this book so much, as stated before five stars!

Description

From the New York Times-bestselling author of A Crane Among Wolves comes a warm and romantic homage to Jane Austen set in historical Korea, about a reader and a writer who secretly fight against government book banning and find themselves irresistibly drawn together.

As the dutiful second-eldest daughter of a poor family, society would have Haewon believe that her only hope of a decent life is to marry well. But during a time of rampant government censorship and book banning, she instead works as an illegal book transcriber to make a little extra money. It’s dangerous work, but she loves it—especially when she gets to transcribe the work of her favorite author, known as Black Lotus.

When her older sister becomes smitten with a wealthy young gentleman, Haewon is roped into chaperoning them during their courtship. Which wouldn’t be so terrible... if it weren’t for the young man’s uptight and annoying best friend who also accompanies them.

As the only son of a noble, Seojun has a lot expected of him. Wealth. Status. Respectability. Certainly not frivolous and often illicit activities such as reading fiction. But Seojun loves to do something even more scandalous: writing. He’s kept his work secret from his father and friends, but with each passing day, the pressure of being his father’s son and the dispiriting actions of the government make Seojun question the purpose of it all. The only thing keeping him going are the encouraging letters he receives from his transcriber, known only as Magpie.

When his best friend falls hard for a girl of lower social status, Seojun finds himself forced to act as chaperone to the infatuated couple—along with the girl's younger sister, who is as irritating as she is judgmental. But as Haewon and Seojun spend more time together, they begin to suspect they may have judged each other too quickly...

Also by June Hur

The Silence of Bones

The Forest of Stolen Girls

The Red Palace

A Crane Among Wolves

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I received this egalley from NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends. I was under no obligation to give a review. All opinions are my own.  

Peasreads- The Trident and the Pearl by Sarah K. L. Wilson

  The Trident and the Pearl

by Sarah K. L. Wilson

Pub Date Feb 24 2026 

So magical. This is high fantasy that drew me right in. SO much so that by mid-book I thought, this better end well. It also better not be the start of a series. Side note- I do not like starting series that do not have an ending. For the most part, I will avoid any ARC or e-galley that is the start of a series, duology, or trilogy. It just makes me have to wait that much longer for the conclusion. There are some authors that I will read regardless, though. That being said. I looked this book up, and it is the first of a trilogy. It doesn't matter now because I am sucked in and 100 percent invested. How could I not be with an opening like this?

 "​I was born into the embrace of the sea on a moonless night in the month of the Ragged Tides. My mother did not bleed out her life into the sea with my arrival, nor was my father visited by a terrible curse."

Queen Coralys is faithful to her people above all. She is willing to trade her life for them when a storm ravages her nation. That is exactly what the gods ask of her when she strikes a bargain with them. The storm recedes, not before taking her husband. As payment, the Queen must marry the first man who sets foot back on the island. She must take him as her husband and take his station as well. The gods love their games. Coralys marries a fisherman with nothing but an empty dinghy. No supplies and no idea where he's taking her. She does not care. She goes willingly with only one thing on her mind. Revenge against the gods who have taken so much from her. She soon begins to suspect that her new husband is the very god she wants to destroy. She must find out and complete her mission. Her new husband has other plans. He is wounded, and his kingdom is threatened. He is certain that she can help him restore his kingdom and his people. Can they learn to trust each other?

I loved this book. FIVE stars. Was Coralys gullible? Yes. Did she make bad decisions? Yes. Was it still amazing? Also yes. Will I be waiting for the next book? Absolutely. 

You can read the first chapter here on Sarah's website.

A desperate queen makes a deal with the gods to save her land in this spellbinding romantasy debut from Sarah K. L. Wilson.

"Perfect for readers who love slow-burn romance steeped in lush fantasy!" ―Danielle L. Jensen, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Fate Inked in Blood

Queen Coralys rules the Kingdom of the Five Isles, but when disaster strikes, killing her husband and destroying half her nation, she pleads with the gods for salvation. And they do save her, turning back the terrible winds and tide and snatching her islands from the brink of destruction.

But the gods have a wicked sense of justice and they demand an exchange for their help: Coralys must marry the first man to set foot on her pier. Coralys expects the fleet of a neighboring country to come to rescue her people, led by its prince, a loyal ally. What she gets instead is a fisherman so sunburnt and stinking that her court can barely keep their breakfast down.

Coralys marries the fisherman just as she promised the gods, and sets out with him in his unkempt dinghy, with nothing but hopes of revenge against the gods to keep her from despair. But what she does not know is that the fisherman is actually the god of the sea. And he stepped on her dock for a reason.

His own kingdom besieged, his body terribly wounded, and his place as a god threatened, the fisherman has plans to turn the tides set against him and finally offer a place of refuge for his people. But working the magic he needs will require the help of the one woman bent on his destruction.

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Peasreads: The Poet Empress by Shen Tao

Thank you to my oldest for this review of The Poet Empress

A huge thank you to the publisher for providing my physical ARC, all thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own! By all technicality, I’m totally posting this before 2026 …

━━ ⋅ ♡ ⋅ ━━━━━━

The Poet Empress is a strong debut that ticked all my boxes — lush setting, strong fmc, and complex characters / plot.

The most notable of these aspects is the characters. At its core, The Poet Empress is a novel about people, their motivations, their histories. From the beginning we are privy to Wei Yin’s thoughts and explanations for the sacrifices or choices she makes. But the actions of others appear mysterious or irrational to her (and thus, the reader) as she struggles to navigate court politics. This slowly changes as Wei Yin begins to listen to the stories of those around her, and peer more closely into their actions. By the end of the novel, everyone feels like their own autonomous being — their actions may still surprise us, but ultimately fit into their characterisation so well it’s satisfying.

In my opinion, the official summary is well representative of the novel! So if it appeals to you at all, I would absolutely encourage you to give this debut a chance. Doubly so if you enjoy complex characters as much as I do.

━━ ⋅ ♡ ⋅ ━━━━━━

With all of the polished writing out of the way, here are some of my more fragmented opinions:

⟢ I need all the Asian (historic or otherwise) fantasy out there please give me more … This is definitely a must read if you are also into these genres!

⟢ If you’re not as into ‘character study’ type narratives as I am, you might find this novel a bit slow at times. There are semi-frequent ‘fash-backs’ that take you away from the main storyline and may feel a bit tedious if you don’t enjoy them.

⟢ Although characters were the star of this novel, the worldbuilding and magic system are nothing to sneeze at! The Poet Empress had magic seeping into every inch of the world, which felt immersive without being overwhelming. Of course, the basis of ‘spells’ being poetry is just the cherry on top.

⟢ Romance is an important part of the narrative, but this is not a romance novel in my opinion! Important distinction.

⟢ It’s truly refreshing to get ‘morally grey’ characters that are … well … actually complex.

⟢ I’m not sure if this will be a standalone or if there is a sequel planned, but there’s no cliffhanger at the end! The conclusion leaves room for the future, but is satisfying on its own.

⟢ For trigger warnings: please read the note at the start of the book! My personal notes are: (view spoiler) This book is rated adult, but I would have been okay reading it as a teen. For others though, they may be uncomfy reading even as an adult. Moral of the story: it’s always okay to skip things that may harm you! Read over the triggers so you can make an informed decision.

DESCRIPTION

Debut author Shen Tao introduces readers to the lush, deadly world of The Poet Empress, a sweeping, epic and intimate fantasy perfect for fans of The Serpent & the Wings of Night, The Song of Achilles and She Who Became the Sun.

In the waning years of the Azalea Dynasty, the emperor is dying, the land consumed by famine, and poetry magic lost to all except the powerful.

Wei Yin is desperate. After the fifth death of a sibling, with her family and village on the brink of starvation, she will do anything to save those she loves.

Even offer herself as concubine to the cruel heir of the beautiful and brutal Azalea House.

But in a twist of fate, the palace stands on the knife-edge of civil war with Wei trapped in its center…at the side of a violent prince.

To survive, Wei must harden her heart, rely on her wit, and become dangerous herself. Even if it means becoming a poet in a world where women are forbidden to read—and composing the most powerful spell of all. A ballad of death...and love.

The Poet Empress is an epic fantasy that explores darker themes, subjects, and scenes that may not be suitable for all readers. Please see the author's content note at the beginning of the book.

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Thank you NetGalley and  Tor Publishing Group | Bramble for this galley I was under no obligation to leave a review. All opinions are my own. 

Peasreads: The Sun and the Starmaker by Rachel Griffin

 

The Sun and the Starmaker. 

"And when we return to the dust of the stars, I will whisper your name in the endless after so that I may find you even in death. Always I will come for you, and always will I stay.”

Are you kidding me!? So enchanting. 

I couldn't put this book down until I was almost to the end. I purposely put it down because I didn't want to finish it.  I didn't want the story to end, and to be heartbroken! I wanted this book to be longer. To learn even more about the village, the StarMaker. Aurora.  When I did finish, it was just so beautiful, even though I cried. It was more than I  could have wanted. Aurora is the female main character. she loves her family and does her best to provide for them. She is willing to do what it takes to save her family and village. Even if that means a painful task and being taught by the distant, cold-hearted Starmaker.  The Starmaker is tired; he is ready for his reign to end. He is a good Starmaker; he cares for those he serves. He has lived for a long time and pulled the sunlight across the village so it can survive for as long as he can remember.  Now it's time to teach Aurora to do the same.

Description

There once was a village so far north that most considered it the top of the world... and in that village, the Sun fell in love with her Starmaker. From the New York Times bestselling author of The Nature of Witches comes a whimsical and sweeping romantic fantasy.

Nestled deep in the snowy mountains of the Lost Range, the village of Reverie is a small miracle. Beyond the reach of the Sun, Reverie is dependent upon the magic of the mysterious Starmaker: every morning, he trudges across a vast glacier and pulls in sunlight over the peaks, providing the village with the light it needs to survive.

Aurora Finch grew up on tales of the Starmaker's magic, never imagining she'd one day meet him. But on the morning of her wedding, a fateful encounter in the frostbitten woods changes everything. The Starmaker senses a powerful magic within her and demands she come study under his guidance. With her newfound abilities tied to the survival of the village, Aurora is swept away to his ice-covered castle and far from everything she's ever known.

The Starmaker is as cold and distant as the mountain itself, leaving Aurora to explore his enchanted castle alone. Yet the more she discovers about the sorcerer, the stronger their attraction grows, pulling her closer to the secrets he refuses to share. But a deadly frost approaches and Aurora must uncover what the Starmaker is hiding before she is left in an endless winter that even the Sun cannot touch.

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Thank you NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Fire | Sourcebooks Fire for this galley I was under no obligation to leave a review. All opinions are my own.

Peasreads: The Legend of the Nine-Tailed Fox Katrina Kwan

 

FIVE-STAR read! Both Yue and Sonam were great main characters who have depth and are likable. They have a past that shaped them, but I also felt like they grew from their past. They aren't perfect, but that makes them real. I felt bad for Yue. She was just doing what was in her nature to survive. The characters end up in Hell, Yue being banished and dragging Sonam down with her. To escape, they must work together. Each challenge they face has them learning about not only themselves but their companions. The story is paced well and flows well. I will be adding a hard copy of this one to my shelves. Even if I have a copy on my e-reader! I have been telling everyone about this book. Romantasy that's just so good. One of my top 2025 reads. 

Pub Date Feb 24 2026

Description
From the author of The Last Dragon of the East comes a sweeping fantasy adventure with a dash of romance between a nine-tailed fox and the demon-hunter who captures her, banished to the underworld together and forced to form a reluctant alliance to escape the circles of Hell.

Yue may be the last of her kind. At night, she stalks the streets of the capital city of Longhao, luring in unsuspecting victims with the mask of a beautiful woman, then consuming them in her true form of the nine-tailed fox.

When she is captured by a powerful demon hunter named Sonam and banished to Hell, she manages one final act of revenge: dragging him—and two of his subordinates—down with her.

Now trapped in an abyss with unimaginable terrors, they’ll need each other’s help to navigate Hell and bypass the gods who preside over each circle, each of whom presents the group with a unique and deadly challenge. Forced to depend on one another as they claw their way out of the underworld, both demon and demon hunter discover that there might be more to the other than meets the eye.

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I received this egalley from NetGalley and Saga Press | S&S/Saga Press I was under no obligation to give a review. All opinions are my own. 

Peasreads: The House Saphir by Marissa Meyer

Mallory really irritated me. I think the story is good. She just irritated me. I guess I thought that she was sometimes cruel to keep the ruse going once she knew that there was true danger. I think that's just a me thing and others might enjoy the story more. I may have read this at a time where I was too sensitive.  The story is good though. The ghost wives are funny. I am glad I listened to the book. even if the FMC rubbed me wrong.

Description:

Mallory Fontaine is a fraud. Though she comes from a long line of witches, the only magic she possesses is the ability to see ghosts, which is rarely as useful as one would think. She and her sister have maintained the family business, eking out a paltry living by selling bogus spells to gullible buyers and conducting tours of the infamous mansion where the first of the Saphir murders took place.

Mallory is a self-proclaimed expert on Count Bastien Saphir—otherwise known as Monsieur Le Bleu—who brutally killed three of his wives more than a century ago. But she never expected to meet Bastien's great-great grandson and heir to the Saphir estate. Armand is handsome, wealthy, and convinced that the Fontaine Sisters are as talented as they claim. The perfect mark. When he offers Mallory a large sum of money to rid his ancestral home of Le Bleu's ghost, she can’t resist. A paid vacation at Armand’s country manor? It’s practically a dream come true, never mind the ghosts of murdered wives and the monsters that are as common as household pests.

But when murder again comes to the House Saphir, Mallory finds herself at the center of the investigation—and she is almost certain the killer is mortal. If she has any hope of cashing in on the payment she was promised, she’ll have to solve the murder and banish the ghost, all while upholding the illusion of witchcraft.

But that all sounds relatively easy compared to her biggest challenge: learning to trust her heart. Especially when the person her heart wants the most might be a murderer himself. 

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I received this egalley from NetGalley and MacMillian Audio MacMillan Publishing I was under no obligation to give a review. All opinions are my own.